Gough back in the mire as Miller shines

Hearts 3 1 Livingston

PREDICTABILITY was resumed as Hearts returned to winning ways and Livingston's revival was halted. Craig Easton's howling miss midway through the second half turned the game, allowing a Lee Miller- inspired home team to snatch the points.

Hearts' last win in the Premierleague was against Kilmarnock on February 12 and there was relief among the home support that skipper Steven Pressley was back alongside Andy Webster after a four-match absence.

Another Scotland squad player, Paul Hartley, was suspended, as was Lithuanian midfielder Saulius Mikoliunas, who collected an eight- match ban for his double sending off against Rangers.

Livingston, having collected seven points from their previous three matches, came into the game knowing, following Celtic's 3-2 win at Tannadice, that they could not return to the foot of the table.

Richard Gough, having had his knuckles rapped last month by Livingston owner Pearse Flynn for being negative about relegation, has stiffened his side in recent weeks and this was evident in the opening 20 minutes.

Hearts were given no time to dwell on the ball and found themselves distinctly second best in midfield, where Burton O'Brien's skill complemented his colleagues' industry.

That little came of this possession was largely due to Pressley, whose tackles time and again broke down the Livingston attacks.

Lee Wallace tried to build attacks for the home side, but three Jamie McAllister free-kicks from dangerous positions, the first of which forced a startled save from Roddy McKenzie, were just about the sum total of both sides' chances before Hearts snatched the lead in the 21st minute.

Again, the Tynecastle side were awarded a free-kick, this time for an Eric Deloumeaux foul on Miller. McAllister had made a hash of his third attempt from a similar position, so this time Miller stepped up to rifle a 25-yard shot past the wall and into McKenzie's left-hand corner.

It was his seventh goal in 10 games since joining on loan from Bristol City and if the new Lithuanian owners are serious in their intent to challenge the Old Firm they will have to find the funds to make the transfer permanent.

While it is dangerous to get over-excited about a player who failed to impress at Ashton Gate, if Miller, who is also commanding in the air and has a nice touch, continues to score at this rate, he is bound to attract the interest of Walter Smith.

The goal settled Hearts, who took advantage of Livingston's fragile confidence and started to dominate.

Mark Burchill forced McKenzie to make a save with his legs and then Miller's low snap-shot from 20 yards saw the goalkeeper at full stretch to turn the shot round the post.

It looked ominous for the visitors, but with two minutes of the first half remaining they equalised. O'Brien was the architect, laying the ball off to Jason Dair on the right and he shot across the otherwise redundant Craig Gordon to give his side a lifeline.

It might have been more than that if Easton had put Livingston ahead in the 64th minute, but in the game's pivotal moment the former Dundee United midfielder had a glaring miss after substitute Colin McMenamin rolled the ball across the face of the Hearts goal.

No sooner had Gough stopped shaking his head in disbelief than his side were two down.

First, Marius Kizys, on for Stephen Simmons, knocked the ball to Burchill in the Livingston box and he lobbed the ball past Mckenzie.

Then, just two minutes later, the result was put beyond doubt, Robbie Neilson getting on the end of a Miller free-kick to score.

FAST FOOTBALL

Fair result? Yes, although it took Hearts a long time to settle. Had Craig Easton not wasted a simple chance in the 64th minute it might have been different.

Entertainment value? A hard-fought contest with both sides desperate to win.

Little chance for the ball-players to shine.

Talking point: Richard Gough was furious that referee Kenny Clark awarded two free-kicks which led to Hearts goals. Livi substitute Oscar Rubio was also booked on the subs' bench after jumping out of the technical area.

Man of the match: Steven Pressley and Burton O'Brien were impressive, but the match-winner was Lee Miller.

Originally available for pounds-100,000, the fee is increasing with every goal.

John Robertson: "It took Lee Miller's goal to settle us down, but after that Roddy McKenzie made three or four magnificent saves. We deserved the win."

Richard Gough: "If we play like we did today we will get more good results than bad in the last eight games. I don't know how Craig Easton missed that chance."

Hearts:

Miller 21, Burchill 66, Neilson 68

Gordon Neilson Pressley Webster Wallace Cesnauskis McFarlane Simmons McAllister Burchill Miller Subs: Kizys for Simmons 60, Stewart for McFarlane 83, Weir for Burchill 87.

Not used: Moilanen, Wyness, Hamill, Berra.

Booked: McFarlane 79, Burchill 84.

Livingston

Dair 43

McKenzie McNamee Deloumeaux Strong Stanic Dair Vincze O'Brien Easton Snodgrass Horvath Subs: McMenamin for Snodgrass 46, McPake for Horvath 46, Lilley for Dair 83.

Not used: Meldrum, Rubio, Dorado, Brittain.

Booked: Vincze 67, Rubio (on bench) 72, McMenamin 79.

Referee: K Clark.

Attendance: 9,187.

Copyright 2005 SMG Sunday Newspapers Ltd.
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